Winery Tid Bits
Goat-A-Palooza 2024
August 30, 2024
As we wind up our summer season at Chateau MerrillAnne we look forward to some cool new things on the horizon for fall. But first things first as our farewell to summer event, Goat-A-Palooza, is coming up tomorrow, Saturday the 31st of August from 1 to 4pm. It's a great day of wine, food (Whitley & Co. BBQ), vendors and BABY GOATS!! Many thanks to our good friend Laura at Happy Meadow Farm for bringing her babies to see us!
Once past this weekend we prepare for fall. First and foremost, harvest, and all that goes with that, is our priority. In the tasting room we go from summer hours of Thursday thru Monday to our regular hours of Friday thru Sunday. Please remember we are open by appointment for wine sales Monday thru Thursday.
But beyond these normal, seasonal tasks and transitions, we have several surprises we think you will love. New improvements, new events....some really fun stuff. Without going into details right now let's just say that most of these things started with me (Kenny) uttering the 4 words that Emily dreads above all...."I have an idea."
So stay tuned, we will start getting some of the details out there in the first week or two of September. Cheers, peace and good health.....and WELCOME FALL!
Big Sexy
We built Chateau Merrillanne with an incredible amount of hard work, help from the Chateau MerrillAnne family and two credit cards. One of the unsung heroes of this journey was our 1971 Chevy pickup truck "Big Sexy". A family member for 25 years this truck has done everything from farm truck to attention grabing survivor. It can still be seen hauling wine to the bottler, bringing home bottled wine, carrying fruit, building materials or any number of things. Emily hates the truck but admits that, creature comfort aside, Big Sexy does everything an $80,000 pickup can do......and with no vehicle payment. This baby is registered and inspected. No "farm truck" tags. No "antique vehicle" tags. While you may need a tetanus shot if you stare at it for too long it is mechanically sound....almost every suspension/chassis component is either new or almost new. So if you see Big Sexy going down the road be sure to wave, she's bringing home the bacon
Hardest working winery cat in the business
So during his job interview last October, we asked Bo if he thought he could keep up with the rigors and fast pace of being a Tasting Room cat. His answer was "sure, no problemo." And here we are 8 months later and he is killing it.
Staff Favorites!
On this week's STAFF FAVORITES, Kenny talks about our 2019 Petite Verdot. Here is his take on his favorite Chateau MerrillAnne wine.
"Virginia is known for great Petite Verdot and our 2019 PV is an excellent example. Great fruit flavor compliments the full, but soft tannins. With 16 months in French oak, 33% of it new, it has subtle barrel notes of smoke and leather. I personally love it as a sipper, but it's true calling is as a foil to food. This wine, paired with lamb chops, will put you in a happy place."
Dormant Pruning Pussycat
This is Bo's first pruning. He is watching carefully, trying to learn, but we do suspect we will have a hard time finding prunning shears to fit his hands (aka murder mitts). Maybe he can just cut them with those retractable switchblades of his.
Staff Favorites!
On this week's STAFF FAVORITES, Emily talks about her love of "Duo", our award winning Viognier/Chardonnay blend. Here is Emily's take on her favorite Chateau MerrillAnne wine.
"One of my favorite blends has always been Viognier and Chardonnay. It is not a blend you see often, but everytime I do, I want to try it. I used end my day in the tasting room by pouring a glass of Viognier and then add Chardonnay until I got it right. Oftentimes customers who saw me do this asked what I was up to. Several tried and were hooked. Now, all we have to do is open a bottle of Duo. Duo is 70% Viognier and 30% Chardonnay. Even though it is only 30% Chardonnay, that beautiful crisp green apple of Chardonnay made in stainless steel really comes through at the beginning. At the end is my favorite grape, Viognier, coming through with lovely tropical notes. A refreshing wine to just sip on a quiet summer afternoon after the day is done.
Join me in a glass soon.
Cheers!"
Breaking news for April 1, 2024!
COMING SOON!! Our exclusive massage room will feature modern styling, custom built massage table and the convenience of an in-room litter box. Our trained massage therapists are skilled in the practically unknown craft of the dual massage/accupuncture treatment. You will be purrrrrfectly content as you become a human biscuit board.
Mrs. White goes to Washington ( the sequel)
The Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association, in conjunction with the Congressional Wine Caucus, presented Best of Category awards for the ASWA's most recent competition on capital hill today. This was our second consecutive year winning a best of catagory in this prestigious event. Our Founded 1734 won best Bordeaux Red Blend of the event. Thanks Michael and Mike for doing such a great job. Our winery neighbors Horton Vineyards and Fifty-Third Winery and Vineyard were also category winners. It was a great day for Central Virginia wine. We also want to make a HUGE shoutout to the ASWA, President Grant Crandall, competition Director Dave Barber, Board member Terri Hyde and her husband Mike Hyde as well as all the other ASWA volunteers. These folks do an INCREDIBLE amount of work to promote east coast wine, and its all done on a volunteer basis. Their passion for wine and commitment to promoting it is unquestioned. I know we speak for every east coast winery when we say "thank you" for the incredible effort.
Chuck's Deck
We just did a little upgrade to "Chucks Deck". The soft top gazebo will offer a little shade from the sun, the fan offers a breeze from the heat and the fountain offers a water borne sonata. We think Chuck would approve.
Staff Favorites
On this week's STAFF FAVORITES, Stephen talks 2022 Albariño. Here is his take on his favorite Chateau MerrillAnne wine.
"A grape you are going to notice more and more in Virginia is Albariño. A Spanish grape grown primarily on the Iberian peninsula, this beautiful white wine packs a punch. With a crisp acidity, like biting into a fresh green apple, this wine has a lingering finish that holds on longer than most other white wines. Find that fresh seafood, pull the cork on our Albariño, and let the flavors of your food and this wine dance".
The Norton Network
· ANNOUNCEMENT:In an effort to showcase the exceptional quality of wines produced from Norton, Virginia's native wine grape, we—a passionate group of Virginia Norton growers, wine producers, and advocates—have come together to form the Norton Network. This dynamic group will collectively promote Norton and support one another by collaborating and sharing best practices in grape cultivation and wine preparation.We are thrilled to announce the participation of these outstanding advocates, wineries, and vineyards:Arterra WinesBarrel Oak Winery and BreweryCasanel Vineyards and WineryChateau Merrillanne Chrysalis VineyardsDuCard VineyardsFifty-Third Winery and VineyardFleetwood Farm WineryHampton Roads WineryHorton VineyardsNokesville WineryParadise Springs Winery, VirginiaPiedmont MeadowsPoorhouse VineyardRappahannock CellarsThe Winery at Bull RunThomas Jefferson Wine CoTwin Oaks Tavern WineryIf you are a grower, wine producer, or an advocate of Norton and are interested in becoming part of this movement, reach out to Jill.Smedley@TheAgDistrict.com for more information. Stay tuned for more exciting news and upcoming Norton events!#NortonNetwork #Norton #NortonIsNative #WineGrapesofVA #VANorton #Nortie #VirginiaWineCountry #VirginiaWine #VirginiaWineLovers #NorthernVirginia #VA #Virginia #NoVa #ArlingtonVA #AlexandriaVA #FairfaxVA #TysonsCorner #RestonVA #LoudounCounty #FallsChurch #Vienna #WashingtonDC #DC #Washington